Okay, wait. This is really going to wander around. Why? Because it is how I think. It is like everything in my life is connected and I go back and forth from here to any other place and bring it back to the front to see the connection. So, just keep reading. It might or might not make sense to you. Yesterday Hawk and I drove to Rapid and as I do, I was listening to Podcasts. One of the podcasts I listened to was "Missing Richard Simmons." I'm not like a huge fan of Simmons, but I downloaded one and liked the conversation so I listened to the whole series (some podcasts are ongoing. Some are limited in episodes -- this one has just six episodes). In this podcast a lot of Simmons' fans are interviewed. This was broadcast a few years ago when Simmons left the limelight suddenly and wouldn't talk to anyone for years. All his devoted fans wondered why (I told we would wander around). One of the fans named Iris really touched my heart and made me realize a lot of people need to know they matter. She spoke about being obese and how it is painful -- physically, but even more so psychologically and emotionally. She talked about how isolating it is because when she'd go out in public she was always judged by people who see her because of her weight. I could hear in her voice how heartbreaking this was for her (and many others).
This isolation is part of a lot of people's lives. A lot of people these days are lonely and feel insignificant. So back to the title of this post, "Here's something you can do today."
You can be kind. Be kind to others. A lot of people don't ever experience kindness. Their worlds are cruel. We are here to be kind to each other. Don't do superficial niceness. That isn't kind. Instead give real kindness -- look people in the eye, smile big at them and see them. People want to be seen through eyes of kindness. They want to know someone notices them (not in a judgy way but in a compassionate way). Ask God to bring someone to you who needs your kindness. When you give it you can know for sure that God used you today.
It isn't about us. It isn't even about our purpose. It is about God and His purpose through us. Please give kindness today. Maybe even pray with someone. Share a word. And pray this verse: Give me an appetite for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot. (Psalm 119:36).